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Improving clinical trials inclusivity for people with disabilities: Despite recent FDA efforts to increase diversity in clinical trials through an updated diversity action plan, people with disabilities remain underrepresented because of procedural barriers and study designs that exclude them, writes Richie Kahn, Co-Founder of the Patient Engagement firm Canary Advisors. A report by The National Council on Disability shows that people with disabilities are often unfairly excluded from clinical trials and calls for better accommodations, inclusive eligibility criteria and enforcement of accessibility laws.

Scientists use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to prepare and prevent future pandemics: The National Science Foundation is funding the development of a machine learning tool that analyzes posts on social media site X to detect early signs of a pandemic, predict outbreaks and evaluate possible effects of specific public health policies. The Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations has funded development of a tool called EVEScape that predicts the behavior of SARS-CoV-2 and other viruses. Meanwhile, drugmakers such as AstraZeneca are using AI to screen antibody candidates, which could help them develop vaccines and antivirals in the event of a virus outbreak.

FDA to investigate tampon safety after testing finds heavy metals: The FDA is investigating possible effects of toxic metals in tampons after a study in the journal Environmental International found traces of lead, arsenic, mercury or other metals in 14 brands of tampons. “The FDA’s laboratory study will measure the amount of metals that come out of tampons under conditions that more closely mimic normal use,” the agency said.

Placebo effect relieves chronic pain in mice: A study published in Current Biology has demonstrated that the placebo effect could be used to relieve chronic pain in mice by conditioning them to associate certain environments with pain relief. This suggests that similar strategies could be used to manage human pain, such as by increasing the effectiveness of pain medications by combining them with the placebo effect.

Lost starfish arms could bolster regenerative medicine: Similar neurohormones in starfish and humans could help scientists better understand the molecular processes behind the animal’s ability to regenerate limbs and lead to advances in regenerative medicine, researchers write in a Current Biology paper based on study of the species Asterias rubens, the common sea star. In humans and starfish, cholecystokinin-type neurohormones set off changes in target cells by binding to specific receptor proteins on the cell surface, which causes gallbladder contractions in humans and muscle contractions in starfish that allow them to detach their arms, then close the wound.

Drug that shrinks children’s heart tumors might work for dogs: Propranolol is used to treat hypertension, atrial fibrillation and pediatric vascular tumors, and now researchers at Atlantic Veterinary College are running a study to see if the drug can shrink heart tumors in dogs. Canine heart tumors are not rare; however, many dogs do not show signs of illness until the tumors are advanced, so finding enough dogs for the study may be a challenge, says veterinarian Abigail Martin, the Co-Lead Investigator and a second-year cardiology resident.

Studies with rodents advance our understanding of how memories form: A new study in Science Advances builds on previous research with rats by demonstrating that the interaction between protein kinase Mzeta and the targeting molecule KIBRA is essential for memory formation, with tests showing that disrupting this interaction disrupts memory in mice. Senior Author Todd Sacktor recognizes the therapeutic potential of this research and envisions the possibility of memory rejuvenation through gene therapy.

: Legislation aims to increase clinical trial participation: Participation in clinical trials is essential for advancing medical treatments but is hindered by financial barriers, and legislative proposals like the Clinical Trial Modernization Act aim to increase clinical trial participation by allowing Sponsors to pay participants up to $2,000 tax-free while ensuring these costs do not affect Medicaid eligibility. A 2023 Greenphire analysis found that clinical trial participants received an average of $487.80, and most of those earning over $600 had to pay taxes on the payments.

Smart mask monitors health via breath biomarkers: Researchers have developed a smart mask that continuously monitors health by analyzing biomarkers in a user’s breath, by transforming exhaled breath into a condensate that is easier to analyze, according to a study in Science. The smart mask successfully identified nitrites in patients with conditions like asthma that cause inflamed airways, and it could be used to measure ketones in the breath of diabetic patients to help monitor glucose levels.

PET scan shows proteins linked to Alzheimer’s pathology: A study in Nature Neuroscience that used PET imaging and proteomic analysis identified 127 proteins differentially abundant across Alzheimer’s Disease stages, showing distinct pathways involved in amyloid and tau pathology. “These findings highlight some of the protein signatures of the different pathologies of Alzheimer’s Disease and provide potential targets for novel therapeutic strategies,” researchers said.